Previously incarcerated adults reentering society after serving their sentence face significant challenges as they try to adjust to life outside jail. In order to reduce recidivism, they require foundational courses, job training, and educational services to ensure an opportunity for a good job. STEP takes an evidence based approach to the provision of all the assessment, academic and training and counseling programs it offers.

The STEP program follows the three-phase model approved by the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors Criminal Justice Committee in 2008 for reducing recidivism.

Getting Ready
Focuses on assessment of individual inmate needs, strengths and risks and education to improve strengths and minimize risks.

Going Home
Focuses on planning for housing, employment and health services.

Staying Home
Uses mentors and other support vehicles to assure continued success.

Executive Summary

STEP’s objective is to provide opportunities for employment through educational transition services to men and women incarcerated within the jail system and teens in alternative schools. STEP will offer incarcerated and previously incarcerated adults, along with graduating teens, an opportunity to acquire job opportunities through achievement of necessary education or vocational training, resulting in jobs, to make successful transitions into the mainstream public when they are released from jail.

Previously incarcerated adults reentering society after serving their sentence face significant challenges as they try to adjust to life outside jail. In order to reduce recidivism, they require foundational courses, job training, and educational services to ensure an opportunity for a good job.

STEP will provide inmates while incarcerated and after incarceration, along with teens in alternative school system, the following six modules:

Assessment of skills needed and interests necessary for vocational or educational pursuits.

Academic and vocational advising resulting in a written comprehensive, multi-year plan towards achievement of a job.

Services will be comprehensively provided as needed singularly to each individual to ensure successful re-entry and gainful employment to eliminate recidivism by working in tandem and continuously with education institutions, as well as related existing non-profit community organizations that will provide additional resources (housing, counseling, dependency, abuse, etc.).